Futuristic Chinese ‘supersonic’ sub could reach US shores in under two hours

Traveling from Shanghai to San Francisco in under two hours may sound like a fantasy, but China believes it’s figured out how to design an underwater vehicle that can make the idea a reality.

More worryingly, though,
is the possibility that the technology will be used to develop
even more dangerous weaponry.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the
super-fast technology was developed by scientists at the Harbin
Institute of Technology, and would allow underwater submarines or
torpedoes to exceed the equivalent speed of sound under water –
about 3,600 miles per hour.

The idea is based on the old Soviet concept of supercavitation,
which involves creating a large air bubble around an object so
that it could avoid facing too much friction and travel through
water quickly.

Professor Li Fengchen said that when the vessel hits the water,
one of its mechanisms continuously sprays a “special liquid
membrane” all over the object’s surface. This membrane
eventually wears off, but by the time the vessel reaches 46 miles
per hour, it’s going fast enough to enter supercavitation state
and generate an air bubble capable of helping it cover previously
unknown distances.

"Our method is different from any other approach, such as
vector propulsion," Li told SCMP. "By combining
liquid-membrane technology with supercavitation, we can
significantly reduce the launch challenges and make cruising
control easier."

In theory, this means a trip across the Pacific Ocean would take
only 100 minutes, while a transatlantic voyage could be
undertaken in less than an hour.

Despite the claims of progress, Li added that there are still
significant hurdles scientists have to overcome, such as creating
precise steering controls and an engine strong enough to power
the whole operation.

Many details surrounding the technology remain unknown, since the
project is still categorized as a military secret.
Supercavitation could still be used to create fast-moving
torpedoes and other weapons, and the US, Russia, Germany, and
Iran are all working on the same issue.

Still, Li said there could be ways to use the breakthrough to
benefit more than just militaries. It could pave the way for fast
underwater transportation, or help create swimsuits that allow
for unprecedented mobility.

"If a swimsuit can create and hold many tiny bubbles in
water,” he said, “it can significantly reduce the water
drag; swimming in water could be as effortless as flying in the
sky.”